41 



unable to make them correspond, a few small 

 fishing boats were descried from the mast-head. 

 The captain of the Pizarro fired a gun for them ; 

 but this signal was useless on a coast where the 

 weak apprehended that they meet with the strong 

 only to be insulted. The boats hastened away 

 toward the west, and we found ourselves in the 

 same perplexity as we had been with respect to 

 the small island of Graciosa, on our arrival at 

 the Canaries. No person on board had landed 

 on this spot, or could give us any information 

 respecting it. Though the sea was very calm, 

 the proximity of an islet, which rose scarcely a 

 few feet above the surface of the water, seemed 

 to prescribe measures of prudence. We ceased 

 to stand toward the land ; and as the lead gave 

 but three or four fathoms, we speedily let go an 

 anchor. 



The coasts, seen at a distance, are like clouds, 

 in which each observer meets the form of the<ob- 

 jects that occupy his imagination. Our bearings 

 and our chronometer being at variance with the 

 charts which we had to consult, we were lost in 

 vain conjectures. Some took mounds of sand for 

 Indian huts, and pointed out the place, where, 

 according to them, the fort of Pampatar was si- 

 tuate ; others saw herds of goats, which are so 

 common in the dry valley of St. John ; or des- 

 cried the lofty mountains of Macanao, which 

 seemed to them partly hidden by the clouds. 



